Pérez & Costello headline LA Opera’s “Bohème” (May 12 – June 2)

When Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello came together to sing Puccini’s ill-fated lovers in Cincinnati Opera’s La bohème, it was a match made in opera heaven. The Enquirer called Pérez’s Mimì “radiant” and Costello’s Rodolfo “wonderfully sung,” and praised the “warmth of tone and effortless high notes” of their duet; likewise, Music in Cincinnati reported: “The two singers made an attractive and emotionally appealing couple, with fresh young voices that soared… . The chemistry between Costello and Pérez was potent.” Now – in the first of three collaborations together this spring – the lyric soprano and tenor dubbed “America’s fastest-rising husband-and-wife opera stars” (Associated Press) reprise the same roles at Los Angeles Opera, where they headline the company’s signature production of Puccini’s masterpiece. Marking Costello’s house debut, the revival opens for six performances on May 12.
 
Originally created by iconic film director Herbert Ross, the L.A. Opera’s La bohème has been credited with “maintaining the work’s charm, while breathing vitality into its characters and supplying imaginative new action” (Variety). Conducted by Patrick Summers, music director of the Houston Grand Opera, and featuring a strong supporting cast, the new revival is staged by director Gregory A. Fortner.
 
While gearing up for their L.A. run, Pérez and Costello have been attracting high-profile attention. In April, the soprano won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, rendering the couple the only husband-and-wife duo to have scooped one each (Costello was the recipient in 2009). A feature on the two singers can be found in the current issue of Vanity Fair, and Pérez and Costello are the first couple discussed in a Los Angeles Times article about married opera singers, which can be read here. They can also be seen discussing their lives and work in “Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez: An Operatic Love Story” on YouTube, and Pérez discusses the upcoming La bohème run – her first opera engagement since the Richard Tucker Award win – in this video (Spanish only).
 
More information about the artists is available at the web sites listed below.
 
 
Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello: upcoming joint engagements
 
May 12, 20, 23, 26, & 31; June 2
Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Opera
Puccini: La bohème (Mimì; Rodolfo)
 
June 25
Moscow, Russia
Moscow State Philharmonic Society
Mascagni: L’amico Fritz (Suzel; Fritz)
 
July 25, 27, & 29
Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Opera
Verdi: La traviata (Violetta; Alfredo)
 
 
ailynperez.com
 
twitter.com/AilynPerez1
 
www.facebook.com/AilynPerezSoprano
 
www.facebook.com/StephenCostelloTenor
 
twitter.com/CostelloTenor
 
www.stephencostellotenor.com